Caster mounting for creepers and the like



Feb. 19, 1957 R. o. HULBERT 2,782,045

CASTER MOUNTING FOR CREEPERS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 4, 1954 INVENTOR. 26750 0. #045597 United States Patent CASTER MOUNTING FOR CREEPE AND THE LIKE Reed 0. Huibert, Ashtabula, Ohio, assignor to The Smashproof Company, Ashtabula, Ohio, a partnership Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 401,847

- 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-32.6)

This invention relates, as indicated, to improvements in the manner of attaching casters to structural members and, while not limited thereto, has particular application in the construction of mechanics creepers.

The casters used conventionally for creeper support are of a common type, including an attaching plate on which the fork supporting the wheel axle is swivelled, and these casters are generally attached to the undersides of the creeper frames by means of bolts passing completely through frame members. Because a creeper is normally subjected to hard use and rough handling, it must be strongly constructed, and it has been the practice to use four bolts, rather than the customary two, to obtain the desired strength and durability of attachment. The use of four bolts, however, has increased the costs of manufacture, with regard both to materials and assembly time.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide economical, yet highly efiicient means, for attaching casters to structural members and the like, such means being comprised of less expensive and more readily assembled components than available heretofore to provide comparable strength and firmness of attachment.

Another object is to provide an improved caster mounting having the characteristics of a conventional four-bolt attachment with the use of only two bolts. It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved creeper construction, wherein each creeper is attached by means of only two bolts in a novel manner affording superiorresults over a normal twobolt attachment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawmg setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanics creeper having casters attached in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a side rail section of the creeper having a caster attached thereto;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the Fig. 2 assembly with the fork frame and wheel of the caster removed; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the attaching 7 plates I use to secure the casters to the side rails.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the creeper il lustrated in Fig. 1 is in its general appearance and major components, similar to the creeper disclosed in my Patent No. 2,084,957, which was granted on June 22, 1937. The preferred form of this creeper comprises a hardwood frame including two side rails 10 and a plurality of cross-members 11 extending therebetween in spaced apart relation.

2,782,045 Patented Feb. 1 9, i 1 957 ICC Suitably secured to the cross bars is the body board 12 placed between the. side rails and adapted to support an operator in prone position. One end of the body board may be extended beyond the ends of the rails and provided with a cushioned head rest 13. Shims 14 are inserted between the side rails and cross members where they are respectively engaged to depress further the level of the body board relative to the side rails.

The creeper is supported by four casters, one in each corner region thereof, attached to the undersides of the side rails. Each caster includes a generally rectangular mounting plate 15 and a fork frame 16, with a ball bearing 17 positioned between the two, the frame, of course, being swivelled on the plate. The frame supports the axle 18 on which the caster wheel 19 is mounted.

Coming now to the novel attaching means which constitutes my invention, the mounting of one caster will be described with reference to the remaining figures of the drawing, it being understood that the other casters are similarly attached. The side rail shown in Fig. 2 is grooved transversely to form a recess 20 adapted to receive the caster mounting plate 15; This recess extends completely across the width of the rail and has a length approximately equal to the length of the plate 15 and a depth approximately equal'to the thickness of the plate. The plate is, therefore, fitted with reasonable snugness in the recess and its end portions are substantially flush with the respectively adjacent portions of the side rail.

Four holes 21 are provided in the caster plate 15, two at each end, and four bolts would normally be. passed through these holes and the side rail to attach the plate. However, in accordance with my invention, only two bolts are used and these do not engage directly in the plate openings.

At each end of themounting plate 15 I provide a square separate attaching plate 22 which has had its corners bent down, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, to form four sharp cleats 23. Each plate has a central opening 24 through which a bolt may be passed.

The two attaching plates-22 are arranged respectively at the ends of the caster plate 15 to overlie commonly the end portions of the latter and the adjacent side rail portions. Each attaching plate has. twoof its cleats engaged in the holes 21 of the respectively associated caster plate end and its other two embedded in the side rail. Two holes are provided in the rail respectively in align ment with openings 24 of the thus positioned plates, and bolts 25 are passed downwardly therethrough and through the plate openings 24. Each bolt has a washer 26 and nut 27 tightened on the lower end to engage and secure the respectively associated attaching plate.

It will be apparent that this construction affords a fourpoint support for the caster with only two bolts being used. The attaching plates 22 are, of course, very inexpensive and readily provided with the corner cleats. Since any tendency of an end of the caster mounting plate to move away from the side rail would tend to swing the attaching plate at such end about its outer side edge, the latter serving as a fulcrum, and the bolt is operative intermediate such force and fulcrum, each plate affords, in effect, a third degree lever. The caster is firmly held in the recess against any lateral and turning movement as well, and a very strong and durable attachment is obtained.

It will be understood that the described caster mounting is subject to modification within the basic idea of the invention, for example, a three-point support may be the structural member, again in cases where the strength requirements are not as exacting. Additionally, it will be clear that this mounting and its possible modifications are not limited to use in creeper construction, although ideally suited therefor. p

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalentof such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A creeper comprising a pair of longitudinal side rails, casters adapted to support said rails including mounting plates having two holes at each of two opposite sides thereof, said side rails being provided with recesses in their uudersides within which the caster mounting plates are fitted, two generally rectangular attaching plates having downturned corners forming sharp cleats associated with each caster, each plate being disposed with two of its cleats engaged in two holes at one side of a caster mounting plate and the remaining two in the adjacent rail portion, and a single fastening element for each plate passing therethrough and through the 'rail portion overlain thereby, said attaching plates and fastening elements constituting the only means securing the casters to the side rails. p

2. In combination, a wooden structural member, a caster including an apertured mounting plate arranged such that the plate overlies said structural member, an attaching plate provided with three cleats projecting to the same side thereof, said plate being disposed with two of its cleats engaged in apertures of the caster mounting plate and the further cleat in the structural member, and a single fastening element passing through said structural member and said plate at a point on the latter efiectively intermediate the several cleats.

3. In combination, a wooden structural member, a. caster including an apertured mounting plate arranged such that the plate overlies said strucural member, an attaching plate provided with at least four cleats projecting to the same side thereof, said plate being disposed with two cleats engaged in apertures of the caster mounting plate and two in the structural member, and a single fastening element passing through said structural member and said plate at a point on the latter intermediate the pairs of cleats respectively engaging the member and the caster mounting plate.

4. In combination, a wooden structural member, a caster including an apertured mounting plate arranged such that the plate overlies said structural member, two generally rectangular attaching plates having downturned corners forming four sharp cleats on each plate, each attaching plate being disposed with two of its cleats engaged in apertures of the caster mounting plate and the remaining two in said structural member, and a single fastening element passing through each attaching plate and the structural member portion overlain thereby.

5. in combination, a wooden structural member having a recess formed therein, a caster including an apertured mounting plate arranged with such plate fitted in the recess of said structural member, the depth of the recess being substantially equal to the mounting plate thickness, two generally rectangular attaching plates having downturned corners forming four sharp cleats on each plate, each attaching plate being disposed with two of its cleats engaged in apertures of the caster mounting plate and the remaining two in said structural member, and a single fastening element passing through each attaching plate and the structural member portion overlain thereby.

6. A creeper comprising a side rail, a caster for supporting said rail including a mounting plate having two holes at each of two opposite sides of the same, a genorally rectangular attaching plate at each of such sides providedwith two cleats engaged respectively in the holes thereof and two further cleats engaged in the adjacent rail portion, all said cleats projecting to the same respective sides of such attaching plates, and a single fastening element passing 'through each attaching plate and the rail at a point on the former etfectively intermediate its cleats, whereby: a four point support for the caster is obtained with only two such fastening elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,076 Stuart May 8, 1883 1,530,506 Maserang Mar. 24, 1925 2,084,957 Hulbert June 22, 1937 2,124,389 Woelfer July 19, 1938 2,175,453 Barcy Oct. 10, 1939 2,288,568 Holmes June 30, 1942 2,516,154 Setterholm et a1. July 25, 1950 2,665,922 Bard Jan. 12, 1954 

